2017 Mid-Engined Chevrolet Corvette Zora Rendered in 360-Degree Glory

Car and Driver

Jan 8, 2015

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2017 Mid-Engined Chevrolet Corvette Zora (artist's rendering)

Although Mark Reuss, head of global product development for GM, confirms that the company is working on the next Corvette, they've kept the details on a need to know basis. And as far as GM is concerned, we—and by proxy you—apparently don't need to know. That all changed when our crack spy photographer caught a next-generation mid-engined Corvette undergoing testing. Now, here's a 360-degree view of what we think the C8 (which may be called the Zora, ZR-1, or some combo of the two) will look like once they peel away the crudely fashioned camo of the test mule.

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Nick Kaloterakis

2017 Mid-Engined Chevrolet Corvette Zora (artist's rendering)

Rumors of a mid-engined Corvette have been swirling ever since GM engineer and Corvette patron saint Zora Arkus-Duntov rolled the CERV I out of the shop and past the 200-mph barrier back in the early 1960s. In between runs on speed records and climbing Pikes Peak, he used the V-8 powered mid-engine CERV I to hone the rear suspension setup of the production C2.

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2017 Mid-Engined Chevrolet Corvette Zora (artist's rendering)

Penned by illustrator Nick Kaloterakis, the renderings pictured here hew closely to our collective vision of how a mid-engined Corvette should look.

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2017 Mid-Engined Chevrolet Corvette Zora (artist's rendering)

Although we expect the C8 to be powered by a small block V-8 initially, the possibility of a powerful, boosted V-6 is very real, as is a fully modern—read: no pushrods—and smaller V-8.

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2017 Mid-Engined Chevrolet Corvette Zora (artist's rendering)

By moving the engine behind the cockpit, it makes room for electric motors to power the front wheels. A hybrid corvette may not be as far off as you think.

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2017 Mid-Engined Chevrolet Corvette Zora (artist's rendering)

The transaxle is arguably the most daunting part of the engineering equation, and it's good bet that a manual won't make the cut.

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2017 Mid-Engined Chevrolet Corvette Zora (artist's rendering)

Given the number years it took for GM to develop its own six- and eight-speed automatics, the gearbox could be outsourced. Our snooping suggests a dual-clutch automatic will get the nod.

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2017 Mid-Engined Chevrolet Corvette Zora (artist's rendering)

Although the engine packaging works out neatly, configuring the cooling systems might take a bit more work. Locating the heat exchangers for the engine, oil, transaxle, and A/C at the sides of the car between the door openings and rear wheels would reduce the amount of plumbing required, but ensuring the proper amount of airflow will take some careful engineering.

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2017 Mid-Engined Chevrolet Corvette Zora (artist's rendering)

back in 2006, the Corvette team sold the GM brass on the idea of a mid-engine Corvette, going as far to produce several scale models. Unfortunately, plans were squashed by the auto-industry recession of 2009, but Tadge Juechter, then assistant engineer on the Corvette program, never gave up hope. Now it appears his dream is becoming a reality.

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2017 Mid-Engined Chevrolet Corvette Zora (artist's rendering)

The C7's aluminum space frame will need a significant redesign for C8 duty. Thankfully, GM's robotic frame fabrication tooling is expandable and is capable of being reprogrammed for the job at hand.

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2017 Mid-Engined Chevrolet Corvette Zora (artist's rendering)

GM has recently developed advanced processes for magnesium casting and sheet forming that could be useful for the C8's structure and weight savings.

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2017 Mid-Engined Chevrolet Corvette Zora (artist's rendering)

Without an engine monopolizing the view ahead, a lower seating position is a given.

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2017 Mid-Engined Chevrolet Corvette Zora (artist's rendering)

We're hoping that the lessons learned from today's GT and Competition Sport seats help the team hone in on one improved bucket suitable for both soft- and hard-core users.

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2017 Mid-Engined Chevrolet Corvette Zora (artist's rendering)

The doors are the next logical candidate for conversion from sheet-molded fiberglass to lighter, stiffer, crash-resistant carbon-composite assemblies.

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2017 Mid-Engined Chevrolet Corvette Zora (artist's rendering)

Squint hard enough, and you can see just a hint of the Cadillac CTS coupe in that C-pillar.

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2017 Mid-Engined Chevrolet Corvette Zora (artist's rendering)

The packaging out back will require some compromises. The muffler will likely use up some space usually reserved for the trunk—but who needs golf clubs when you have a mid-engined Vette?

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2017 Mid-Engined Chevrolet Corvette Zora (artist's rendering)

The fuel tank will likely reside in the tunnel along with the plumbing.

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2017 Mid-Engined Chevrolet Corvette Zora (artist's rendering)

The Zora ZR-1 will be a low-volume model, likely around 1500 units per year.

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2017 Mid-Engined Chevrolet Corvette Zora (artist's rendering)

The mid-engined model will coexist with the standard-issue, front-engine Corvette, at least for a few years. We expect all Corvettes to move to the mid-engine platform by 2020.

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2017 Mid-Engined Chevrolet Corvette Zora (artist's rendering)

If you like the cut of the C8's jib, start clipping coupons now. We expect pricing to start at around $150,000.

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2017 Mid-Engined Chevrolet Corvette Zora (artist's rendering)

Chevy wants to finally move the Corvette past the basic proportions and form language that it has used since the C3. The mid-engine configuration allows a radical redesign of the exterior while putting the weight of the engine over the rear wheels for better acceleration and braking.